LONDON: ISIS is almost universally detested across the Middle East, Asia and Africa, even in Muslim-majority countries, a new poll has shown.
Despite rhetoric about supposed "sympathy" for the terrorist group among Muslims in the UK and around the world, research by the Pew Research Centre indicated almost non-existent support in 11 surveyed countries and territories.
In Lebanon, where ISIS' recent bombing in Beirut killed 43 people, 99 per cent of respondents said they had a "very unfavourable" opinion of the group, while 94 per cent of Israelis and 89 per cent of Jordanians felt the same.
In the Palestinian territories, 84 per cent of people had a negative view of ISIS, both in the Gaza Strip (92 per cent) and the West Bank (79 per cent).
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), told The Independent that the results were no surprise.
"I think it emphasises that ISIS are seen as a threat to communities across the Arab world - Muslims have been their primary victims after all, as was the case with al-Qaida," he said.
"The brutal nature of their rule, the way they have treated women, all the beheadings, have not endeared them to people.
"(Respondents) also know that by their actions, ISIS are trying to turn the non-Muslim world against them."
Despite rhetoric about supposed "sympathy" for the terrorist group among Muslims in the UK and around the world, research by the Pew Research Centre indicated almost non-existent support in 11 surveyed countries and territories.
In Lebanon, where ISIS' recent bombing in Beirut killed 43 people, 99 per cent of respondents said they had a "very unfavourable" opinion of the group, while 94 per cent of Israelis and 89 per cent of Jordanians felt the same.
In the Palestinian territories, 84 per cent of people had a negative view of ISIS, both in the Gaza Strip (92 per cent) and the West Bank (79 per cent).
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), told The Independent that the results were no surprise.
"I think it emphasises that ISIS are seen as a threat to communities across the Arab world - Muslims have been their primary victims after all, as was the case with al-Qaida," he said.
"The brutal nature of their rule, the way they have treated women, all the beheadings, have not endeared them to people.
"(Respondents) also know that by their actions, ISIS are trying to turn the non-Muslim world against them."
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